Question

Most countries often claim themselves to be democratic by conducting elections. How did this happen in the context of Myanmar and Libya?

Answer 1

Instructions:

• Define the meaning of election.
• Discuss how democratic elections were curbed in Myanmar.
• Explain how Libyan Government under Gaddafi curbed the democratic rights of the people.

Solution:
Elections are a process through which representatives are elected by citizens of a country to form government, at periodic intervals.

Myanmar

• Burma (Myanmar) a former colony of Britain gained independence five months after Indian independence.
• In 1947, Aung San, the Burmese ethnic leader was assassinated and since then Burma has been ruled by army generals.
• Elections were held in 1990 which was won by Suu Kyi of National League for Democracy (NLD).
• Despite winning elections, Suu Kyi was kept under house arrest and the military refused to hand over power.
• In 2008, the military regime in the country undertook many reforms to ensure that the country looked democratic on the outside.
• However, the government continued to be formed partly through the elections and partly through military nominations.
• Though elections were held again in 2010 under the observation of the United Nations, Suu Kyi was kept under house arrest and her party refused to contest the elections.
• As such the military backed Union Solidarity and Development Party won most seats.
• There were also allegations of malpractices in the elections.

Libya

• In 1969 Gaddafi took over the control of Libya and abolished the monarchy of King Idris.
• The new regime under Revolutionary Command Council (RCC) brought economic growth and development but it did not have faith in democracy or democratically elected bodies.
• It created a parallel system of leadership of ‘Revolutionary Councils’, which were appointed and controlled by Gaddafi and the RCC.
• The RCC was intolerant of criticism and used brute force to suppress political opponents.
• There was no freedom of press, and independent organisations like trade unions were banned in Libya.
• In 2010 revolutionary wave of protests and wars against the Government began to spread across the Arab world.